Flow responsive alarm valve



June 13,*1944. E. TYDEN 2,351,082 f' FLOW RESPONSIVE ALARM VALVE ruled March 9, 1942 Patented June 13, 1944 UNITED STATES ATENT-x AOFFICE ,v Y 2,351,082.47 I' I i FLoW REsPoNslvEALARM VALVE f Emil Tyden, Hastings, Mich. Y i Application March 9, 1942, Serial No.' 433,884

5 claims. (c1. 16a-g3) `V y This invention relates to a fluid-flow indicator which may include an alarm device and which is adapted for use with al water distribution system'as, for example, that employed in fire-extinguishing sprinkler installations. In such a system, when the ow of water starts, it may be occasioned either by the opening of a sprinkler head as the result of a rise in temperature caused by an actual lrejor it may be evidence of a leak or accidental breakage of a sprinkler head, or some other portion of the apparatus, which might cause considerable damage if there were no fire; accordingly, it is always important that the commencement of 'such' flow be promptly indicated.

One object of the present invention is to provide an economical and lreliable mechanism arranged for actuation by fluid flow and provided with connections for operating an alarm device to give notice of such flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid-now actuated mechanism, arranged to control a fluid-flow actuated alarm device and employing for both purposes the fluid from the flow passage with which it is associated.

It is a further object of the invention to simplify the structure so as to require only a single opening in the ow passage through which the flow-responsive mechanism operates, and through whichrfluid is supplied under control of saidmechanism for actuating an alarm dei vice.

l It is also an object of the invention to provide a flow-responsive alarm mechanism which will be sensitive enoughto respond to temporary surges or movements of the fluid, but whichincludes means for delaying the actuation of the alarm for a limited period, so that such temporary movements shall not result in a false alarm.

Other objects and advantages 0f the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flow-responsive device, together with a fragmentary portion of a flow passage to which it is applied, a portion of the wall of the passage being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is taken as a horizontal section, as indicated at line 2--2 on Fig. l, cutting through the pipe or flow passage, but showing the flow-responsive device `in top plan view. n

Fig. 3 is a substantially medial, vertical section, taken as indicated at line 3-3 on Fig. 2, but on aimuch-largerscale to show details of construction of the mechanism. A

Fig. '4 is a vertical, detail section, taken as indicated at line 4-4- on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view,'showing the actuating pinion associated with the flow-responsive vane. While there is shown and described herein certain specific construction embodying the invention, `it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except in -so far asv indicated by the appended claims.

The pipe or flow passage to which the device embodying this invention is applied is indicated at'v I as a vertically extending conduit which may be a supply line for a lire-extinguishing sprinkler system.' At one side an opening I is cut in the wall of the pipe I Vand the alarm mechanism is secured in place by vmeans of a clevis or clamping ring which includes two arms 2, 2 each secured by a pivot 3 to a pad 4, which is formed to i'it snugly against the outer surface of the pipe I with suitable packing 5 interposed. A clamping bolt 6 connects the free lends of the arms '-2,'2 and completes the securement, since the remainder of the mechanism, including a receptacle 1,' isattached to or mounted within the pad A plug 8 tted snugly in a bore in the pad is formed with a head portion which enters the opening Ia in the pipe I, and which includes-a flange 8a serving to press the packing firmly against the surface of the pipe to insure water-tightjoint, while the threads 8b at the other end-.of the plugengage in the wall of the receptacle 'l tosecure it to the pad 4. At the top the receptacle I is closed by a screw cap 9.

The flow-responsive vane IU which extends into the passage I is provided with a reinforcing rib Il!a and with supporting arms IIlb which are secured rigidly to a pivot shaft II carrying a gear pinion I2 (see Fig. 5). The pivot II is fitted with washers I2a which are joukrnaled in a supporting plug I3 secured tightly in substantially axial position in the plug 8. In the exposed annular portion of the head of the plug B, around the "smaller plug I3, there are arranged a plurality of ports or passages I4 providing constant -communication between the interior of the flow passage I anda lower chamber I5 of the receptacle l., This lower chamber is provided with an outlet-pipe I6, which may be understood as leading to a water-operated alarm device of any I1, the pinion I2, which is fast on the pivot shaft Y II and will, therefore, turn with any movement of the vane I0, is meshed with rack teeth I8 cutH in the walls of a tubular rack member Iawhich is slidably mounted in the plug I3. A' cross pin' in the rack member I9 engagesone end cfa slot in the stem 2| of a valve 22 as seen in Figure.

3, thus providing a one-way drive connection betweenjtheracl memberand the. valve stem. The said vane 22-rnormally closes a small port formedin the valvel seat 23 and leading to the upper chamber 24 of the receptacle 1. The

valve stem 2| is slidable through aflanged collar 25 seated 4against the shoulder formed by the end` of the .plug I3, and is fitted with a collar 26 soithat a spring 21 reacting between said collarsholds, the valve 22 normally closed and also holds the vane III at its normal, horizontally extended position in the passage I. But when the flow commences in an upward directionthroughuthe pipe I and swingsthe vane ID upwardly, thepinion I2 is rotated and the member I9 is moved in its guideway in the plug I3 so as to Withdraw the valve 22 from its seat. The valve seat is shown surrounded by a screen 28 tolplreventhdirt or-sand'in the water from clogging the valve seat, but the Ywater itself enteringgthrough the passages I4 has free access to the port in the valve seat 23, and thus enters the chamber 24'when the valve V22 is opened. 'ifV the movement of the4 vane is only temporary, being caused by a surge or other momentary movement ofthe water, so that the vane promptly returns to its -normal horizontal position and allows the valve 22 to close, the relatively small Y ible diaphragm 3|in `the, top of the chamber 24.

This. diaphragm -is connected to the stem 32 of the' valve I1 so that upward movement of the diaphragm 3| operates to open the valve I1 admitting water` to the pipe I6 for actuating the alarm devicefnot shown). A spring 33 housed in aA cap member 34 above the diaphragm 3| normally holds the valve.y I1 in closed position,

and the tension of the spring may be varied byl an adjusting nut 35 which is screwed into the cap 34 and serves as a guide for the upper end 'of the stem 32. The stem is shouldered at 32a so .that thediaphragm 3| may be secured between clamping washers 36Y by means of a clamp- 'ingnut 31 on the reduced threaded portion of the stem 32. f f

' Thus as long as the ilow continues in the pipe .I, So as to hold the'vane I Il ,at an angle to its normal, horizonta1 position, the valve 22 will be held open and the chamber 24 will be kept supplied with sufficient water to hold the diaphragm 3| in its upper position and hold the valve I1 open; but, upon cessation of the flow in the pipe I, the vane I0 will return to horizontal position and the valve 22 will be seated by its spring 21; thereupon the water in chamber 24 will drain through the pipe 29 and as the level recedes inrsaid chamber thediaphragm 3| will be pressed toward its* lower position by the spring 33 and the valve I1 will be closed, thus .cutting off the water pressure supplied to the "alarm device through the pipe I6 and stopping the operation of the alarm. In the event of a Y. temporarysurge or downward movement of the waterin the passage I, the spring 21 will allow Ythe vane Into Vswing downwardly, moving the rack member I9 and collar 25 in the direction to compress the spring 21, while the valve 22 remains seated. y l K It, will beunderstood .that in order to permit the water to accumulate in the chamber 24, so asto actuatethediaphragm 3| and valve I1, as just described, the vent port 38 in the fitting 39 to which the vent pipe 29 is connected will be of smaller capacity than the port controlled bythe valve 22, since the port 38 is open at all times and the water wil1 beginto ow therefrom as soon as it is Vadmitted by the valve 22. The valve stem 32,* extends through an opening 4U in the' upper wall ofthe chamber I5, in order to transmit motion from the diaphragm 3| to the valve I'I. vBut the upper chamber 24 must be sealed from the lower lc hamber I5 to prevent the water, which constantly occupies the lower chamber, from leaking into the upper chamber and possibly Igiving a false alarm. Therefore, a courugated, flexible cylinder of the Sylphon type is shown at 4| with one end secured around the opening 46 and with its upper end clamped in sealing Yengagement. withthe valve stem 32 by means of a nut 42 thereon. l

It will be yseen that the mechanism embodying this invention is of a relatively simple character, comprising only a few parts which can bemanufactured economically and which may beeasily adjusted to operate eiectively when the device is installed.v v Furthermore, it Yprovides for operation of an alarm 4device by making use of a portion of the water present in the passage with which the mechanismis associated for indicating flow.

.1 vclaim as my invention;-v 1. In combination with a flowpassage, a flow indicator including a vane extending into the passage, said passage having a single lateral opening, a plug,secured in said opening and supporting said vane swingably for response to flow in the passage, a conduit leading through said plug to an .alarm mechanism, a normally closed ,alarm valve controlling delivery of liquid to said mechanisma chamber having a movable wall connected'to the alarm valve and having an inlet pcrticommunicating with the aforesaid conduit, a normally closed valve controlling said port, and operating means extending throughrsaid plug from said vane to the controlling valve kto open :it in response to ilow in the passage, the resulting accumulation of liquid in the chamber `actuating its said movable wall to open the 4alarm valve.

C2. I n combination with a ow passage, a ilow indicator includingy aivaneextendlng into the passage, said passage 'having a single lateral opening, a plug secured in said opening and supporting said vane swingably for response to flow in the passage, a receptacle attached to the plug and having two chambers, one of said chambers having constant communication with the How passage through said plug, a conduit leading from said chamber to an alarm device, an alarm valve controllingk said conduit, the other chamber having an inlet port affording communication with the rst chamber, a control valve for said port, and means extending through said plug connecting said control valve to saidV Vane, whereby the swing of the vane in response to iiow in the passage opens the control valve admitting liquid to the said other chamber, said other chamber having means movable by accumulation of liquid therein and operatively connected to the alarm valve for opening it.

3. A ow indicator comprising a vane normally extending across a flow passage and pivoted to swing in response to ow therein, a pinion fixed to the vane at its pivot axis, a rack member meshed with the pinion, a fixed plug in which the rack is guided for reciprocation in response to swing of the vane, a valve having a stem extending from the end of the rack member and telescopically engaged therewith, a one-way driving connection between the valve stem and the rack member operable to unseat the valve when the vane swings away from normal in one direction, the Valve stem having a shoulder, and a spring reacting between said shoulder and said end of the rack member and resiliently seating the valve when the vane stands at normal position and yielding when the vane swings away from said normal in the opposite direction.

4. In a ow indicatoras defined in claim 3, a loose collar on the valve stem interposed between the said spring kand the end of the rack member and dimensioried to overlap and bear against the plug, whereby` the spring maintains the vane yieldingly at its normal position when the valve is seated. l

5. In combination with@ vertically extending iiow passage, a iiow in cator including a vane normally extending in horizontal direction across said passage and pivote'lito swing in response to ilow therein, a pinion-,fixed to the vane at its pivot axis, a rack member meshed with the pinion, a fixed plug in which the rack is guided for reciprocation in response to swing Vof the Vane, a conduit leading through said plug to an alarm mechanism, a valve controlling said conduit and having a stemextending from the end of the rack member and telescopically engaged therewith, a one-way driving connection between the valve stem and the rack member operable to unseat the valve when the vane swings away from its normal horizontal position in one direction, the valve stem having a shoulder, a spring reacting between the said shoulder and said end of the rack member, and a loose collar on the valve stem interposed I`between the spring and the end of the rack member and dimensioned to overlap and bear against the plug, whereby said spring resilientlyseats the valve when the vane stands at its normal horizontal position and also supports the vane `yieldingly in said horizontal position, said 'spring yielding when the vane swings away from said normal position in the opposite direction.'

EMIL TYDEN. 

